President Jing Zhao Cesarone: Long-termism and Responsibility Are Core to Corporate Sustainability

On May 5, the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting, a major event closely watched by global investors, was held in Omaha, Nebraska. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Berkshire Hathaway Shareholders Meeting. Sina Finance, together with its premier partner Qinghua Fenjiu and co-organizer Global CSR Foundation, brought exclusive coverage of the event.

At the meeting, Sina Finance interviewed Jing Zhao Cesarone, President of the Global CSR Foundation. In the interview, she stated: “Only by adhering to long-termism and taking on social responsibility can one remain resilient and undefeated in a complex market.”

As a co-organizer of the “Omaha Dialogue” event series, Jing Zhao Cesarone noted that Warren Buffett’s principles of rational investing and long-termism strongly align with the values of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and provide a strategic framework for sustainable development across global enterprises.

Addressing the impact of artificial intelligence on business models, Cesarone emphasized, “Long-termism is the key to navigating economic cycles.” She stressed that CSR is not just a moral obligation but also a strategic choice: “At its core, CSR is about taking responsibility for the long-term sustainability of society, the environment, and the economy. It requires companies to incorporate the interests of shareholders, employees, communities, and the environment into their decision-making.”

On advancing women’s leadership, Cesarone highlighted that women possess unique strengths such as empathy, risk awareness, and long-term vision, but still face major challenges like implicit bias and unequal promotion systems. She called on businesses to set gender diversity targets, establish mentorship programs, and offer hands-on opportunities to fully unlock women’s potential in leadership and investment.

Commenting on the global trend of responsible investing, Cesarone stated, “The essence of responsible investment is to steer capital toward companies that improve their ESG performance.” She cited Alibaba’s rural revitalization programs and BYD’s green technology initiatives as “Eastern models” that not only serve domestic markets but also demonstrate to global investors that ESG and business success can go hand in hand.

As younger investors increasingly prioritize social impact and environmental justice, Cesarone urged financial institutions to “transparently disclose ESG performance, innovate investment tools, and include young voices.” She also encouraged the next generation with a message: “Only by embracing long-termism and boldly taking on social responsibility can one remain resilient and successful in today’s complex market.”

Below is the full interview with Sina Finance:

Sina Finance: You are a regular attendee at the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting. What topics are you most focused on this year, and how would you evaluate this investment event?

Jing Zhao Cesarone: I’m Jing Zhao Cesarone, President of the Global CSR Foundation. Over the years, our foundation has co-hosted 12 editions of the “Omaha Dialogue” event with the U.S.-China Exchange Foundation, and in the past three years, we have co-organized the Sino-US Investors Reception with Sina Finance. I come to Omaha each year with a fresh perspective. This year, I’m particularly focused on how AI is reshaping business models, the cyclical nature of the global economy, and how Berkshire Hathaway is positioning itself in the face of a new wave of industrial transformation. As always, Buffett delivers profound insights with simple language. He reinforces the core values of “rational investing” and “long-termism”. This is not just an investment event—it’s an intellectual sanctuary for global business leaders.

Sina Finance: Buffett has consistently emphasized long-termism and responsibility. Do you believe these principles align with the direction corporate social responsibility (CSR) is heading today?

Jing Zhao Cesarone: They align very closely. At its core, CSR is about being accountable for the long-term sustainable development of society, the environment, and the economy. Buffett’s “long-termism” is essentially the essence of CSR—it means taking a broader view, incorporating the interests of shareholders, employees, communities, and the environment into decision-making. This provides a sustainable growth path for global enterprises.

Sina Finance: We are seeing more women taking on leadership roles in finance and corporate governance. What unique strengths do you believe female leaders bring to promoting long-term value and sustainability?

Jing Zhao Cesarone: Female leaders often exhibit high levels of empathy, risk awareness, and a long-term perspective—all of which are core qualities for advancing sustainable development. They play a critical role in communication, collaboration, and diverse governance, and are often better equipped to balance economic goals with social responsibilities.

Sina Finance: In your work to promote women’s leadership, what have been the biggest challenges? What mechanisms do you believe can better support women in achieving leadership roles in investment and governance?

Jing Zhao Cesarone: The most significant challenges remain implicit bias and unequal promotion mechanisms. To truly drive change, companies should set gender diversity targets at the executive level, implement targeted training and mentorship programs, and provide women with more hands-on opportunities in capital markets and corporate governance roles.

Sina Finance: Responsible investing is becoming a mainstream choice for many institutions. How would you define “responsible investment”? Beyond financial returns, how does it generate social or environmental value?

Jing Zhao Cesarone: Responsible investment isn’t just about profit—it requires investors to focus on a company’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance. By directing capital flow, responsible investment encourages companies to improve environmental management, promote social equity, and enhance governance, ultimately achieving long-term social and environmental impacts alongside financial returns.

Sina Finance: ESG investing is gaining momentum globally, but there’s also controversy around ESG ratings. What is your view on the current challenges and the future of ESG standards?

Jing Zhao Cesarone: ESG ratings do face challenges such as inconsistent standards and lack of data comparability. But these are growing pains for an emerging market. I believe we’ll see the development of more unified and transparent standards, along with more third-party verification agencies to ensure that ESG ratings truly reflect a company’s overall strength.

Sina Finance: From your perspective, are there any outstanding examples from Asia, particularly China, in ESG or CSR practices that showcase the power of an “Eastern model” to global investors?

Jing Zhao Cesarone: Absolutely. For instance, Alibaba’s ongoing efforts in rural revitalization and carbon neutrality, and BYD’s global deployment of green transportation and new energy technologies, are great examples of innovation in China’s ESG space. These “Eastern models” not only serve local markets but also provide inspiration and confidence to global investors.

Sina Finance: With growing geopolitical and economic pressures, how do you view the role of cross-border collaboration in advancing global corporate responsibility? Any inspiring cases?

Jing Zhao Cesarone: Cross-border cooperation is essential to advancing global corporate responsibility. For example, joint innovation by Chinese and American companies in climate change and renewable energy shows the value of “cooperation amid competition.” Our recent partnerships with institutions in the UAE and Europe also show that cultural and political differences can be bridged through shared commitments to responsibility.

Sina Finance: In promoting the concept of responsible investment, have you encountered challenges in turning ideals into action? How do you persuade companies to stick to long-termism despite short-term profit pressures?

Jing Zhao Cesarone: This is a common challenge. Under financial pressure, many companies reduce CSR investments. We usually use data and real-world cases to show that truly outstanding companies that maintain long-term ESG strategies not only don’t suffer financially, but actually become more resilient and competitive. These examples are the most persuasive tools in promoting long-termism.

Sina Finance: In recent years, younger investors have shown rising interest in social value and environmental justice. How should institutional investors respond to this emerging trend?

Jing Zhao Cesarone: Institutional investors need to respond to this trend by transparently disclosing ESG performance, developing innovative products that align with the values of the younger generation, and strengthening communication with young investors. It’s also vital to include their voices and make them active drivers of responsible investment.

Sina Finance: You’ve long been at the forefront of global responsible investment and gender equity. As both a witness to and advocate for this movement, what values and actions would you most like to share with the next generation of investors?

Jing Zhao Cesarone: The values I want to pass on are responsibility and perseverance. In a rapidly changing world, only by embracing long-termism and bravely taking on social responsibility can one remain resilient in a complex market. I encourage young investors to challenge norms, pursue innovation, and have the courage to act with purpose. Be a friend of time, and be a change-maker with a mission.